The Waterhole
Dipi is telling Shane about the hotel room she's arranged for him to have some relaxation time - he can check in straight after his shift. She's already packed him a bag.

DIPI: But I have left all your uni stuff at home, because you are having a night off from all the stress and responsibility.
SHANE: I don't know what to say, babe. You're the best.
DIPI: You deserve it.

He agrees to meet her at the hotel after his shift, and Dipi leaves. Shane thanks Roxy, who has been listening with concern, for not saying anything.

SHANE: Does this mean you're gonna keep it to yourself?
ROXY: Yeah, it does. But only on one condition - you stop using.
SHANE: I will. I have.
ROXY: Do you have any more?
SHANE: Honestly, Rox, I'm off it - starting now.
ROXY: Good, because it's gonna be a lot harder than what you think it is. You're gonna start to withdraw.
SHANE: Rox, you're making too big a deal of this. I was only using it to study. It's not like I'm addicted.

No 32
David and Aaron come in to find the living room is a bombsite; we learn it's Brent's mess that we're looking at.

DAVID: We shouldn't have to keep asking him to clean up.
AARON: I'm kind of sick of his backchatting, too.

They call Brent out for a chat, and challenge him on the mess.

BRENT: I've lived in dirtier places.
DAVID: That's not comforting.

Brent is put out by their requests to tidy up, and says he'll do it later.

AARON: No, you won't do it later - you'll do it right now.
BRENT: No, because we're picking up Em from the hospital.
AARON: No, no, no. *We're* gonna pick up Em from the hospital. You - you're gonna stay here and clean up this mess.
BRENT: What?! No way, alright? That's crap!
DAVID: Your brother has a spinal fracture. Do you want him tripping on one of your shirts? It could be serious.

Brent marches out of the room angrily.

Lassiter's
Dipi and Shane are in the hotel room she's rented for him. Shane admits he'll probably spend the entire time sleeping; Dipi says that sounds perfect. She knows how hard he's been working and doesn't want him to think she took it for granted.

SHANE: It'll all be worth it once I graduate, right?
DIPI: Right. Now, don't even dream about your studies until tomorrow. And, umm... I love you.

She hangs a 'do not disturb' sign on the door, and leaves him to it. Shane takes a packet of pills from his pocket, and clenches them in his fist. He looks anguished.

Erinsborough Hospital
Emmett is wearing a neck brace as he emerges into the car park with David and Aaron; they tell him he can't run or swim while he's recovering from his fracture. Emmett wants to know why Brent didn't come with him; Aaron explains he had to stay and tidy up.

EMMETT: Oh. Right. I just thought, maybe he had to leave.
DAVID: No, if he had to go back into care, we'd talk to you about it first.
EMMETT: (...) So, things have been good while I was in hospital?
DAVID (diplomatic): Well, it's been a learning curve.
AARON: As it always is when you live with someone new. Like when you first came to live with us.
EMMETT: But, like, you guys have been getting along alright?
AARON: Yeah, yeah, of course.

But David doesn't look very convinced as they get into the car!

No 24
Chloe comes in with Pierce, back from her trip to Adelaide, and Hendrix welcomes her home. He asks how her mum is.

CHLOE: She's an inspiration. Always has been.

Pierce has a surprise for Chloe - he's made her beetroot burgers for dinner! He claims he made them from scratch which is met with scepticism, then admits that Dipi did show him how it's done.

PIERCE: I know it's not much, but I just wanted to do something special.
CHLOE: You're adorable! And they smell so good!

Chloe admits she wishes she'd have been able to stay with Fay for a bit longer in Adelaide. She explains that the feeding tube has definitely helped with Fay's quality of life, but that it was hard seeing how far downhill she'd gone since Chloe's last visit.

CHLOE: It definitely gave me a lot to think about.

No 32
Brent is relaxing in the garden when David emerges from the house, with Emmett. David is none too happy, telling Brent that the mess inside is still a disgrace. Brent gets up to welcome Emmett, but David tells him to be careful - he's still healing. Brent asks how Emmett is feeling; he says he's all good. David again asks Brent to clean up.

BRENT: I'm in this joint for a week, alright? I'm here to hang out with my brother. I'm not spending my time being your slave, alright?
EMMETT: I can help you clean up.
DAVID: No, you need to rest, mate. Come on, Brent - I don't think we're being unfair. You made the mess. You need to clean it up.
BRENT: I said no, alright? I'm over this crap.

Brent stomps off. Emmett then walks off inside too, looking sad.

Lassiter's Complex
Kyle comes out of Harold's with coffees for him and Roxy. He notices she's distracted and asks what's up.

ROXY: I have a friend who's going through a tough time. And I promised to keep it in the vault, so I can't really tell you.
KYLE: Well, how tough of a time are we talking?
ROXY: I can't say, but I'm not qualified to be helping.
KYLE: If you're their mate, I'm sure you're the perfect person to help.

But Roxy insists she's out of her depth. She's sorry she can't tell Kyle any more. Kyle understands, but says he's here for her when she can.

Lassiter's
In the hotel room, Shane is under the covers, in a cold sweat and looking anguished. Evidently the withdrawal symptoms have kicked in. He gets a text from Roxy asking how he's doing. He replies, 'all good'. We see him pacing around the room, adjusting the temperature, taking layers off, then shivering and breathing heavily on a chair in the corner.

The Waterhole
Harlow and Hendrix are choosing from the menu, when Brent comes in. Harlow's surprised he's not with Emmett given he got out of hospital today.

BRENT: Yeah - you know, those losers, they wouldn't even let me go pick him up (...) They made me stay home and clean up instead.

Harlow is sympathetic, but tells Brent that David and Aaron are good people, and asks if Brent can think of a reason they're being so hard on him. Brent admits that the place was messy and that he didn't sort it out as requested.

BRENT: I just don't like being bossed around.
HARLOW: That is part of having a family, unfortunately. But you've been away from Emmett for so long - it would be a shame to lose this chance of being together over some chores.

Brent seems uncharacteristically receptive to what Harlow's saying, and agrees. She suggests that if he met David and Aaron halfway, things would be smoother and it would make Emmett happy.

HARLOW: It'd be really cool if you could stick around for longer.

From the smile on his face, it feels like Brent's misinterpreted this for more than it is. He decides to head back to the house to sort things out, smiling at Harlow as he goes.

HENDRIX: I reckon he thinks that you're into him!
HARLOW: Right - with my boyfriend right next to me?
HENDRIX: I'm just saying what I'm seeing.
HARLOW: Please don't go all caveman on me.
HENDRIX: I'm not! Just be careful of him.
HARLOW: Relax. I am just being nice.

Harold's Café
Chloe and Pierce are at a table. Chloe tells Dipi, who's serving, how great Pierce's beetroot burgers were.

DIPI: Well, you should see his kitchen dance moves. I've got beetroot stains on my apron as proof.
CHLOE: Uh, exsqueeze me - since when do you kitchen dance? I would like an encore performance immediately, please!

But Pierce insists it's not something Chloe needs to see! Pierce thanks Dipi again for showing him the ropes with the burgers, and she heads back to work. Chloe seems fidgety and Pierce asks if she's still upset about the fight they had before she left. She says it's not that.

CHLOE: Everyone in Adelaide is doing an amazing job caring for Mum - Mark, Tyler, Piper, Paige - they're all incredible. But it's wearing them out (...) They need a break, and... we could be the ones to offer it to them. If you're okay with that?

Pierce nods uncertainly.

Lassiter's Complex
Shane is out of his room for a walk, when he receives a phone call from someone.

SHANE: Hey... I wasn't gonna do this, but - are you around?

No 32
David and Aaron are talking about Fay; Aaron's going to call Chloe tomorrow morning to get the lowdown. They are also worried about Brent, who hasn't come home yet.

AARON: You know Emmett still thinks that we picked the fight with him?
DAVID: Yeah. Now he also thinks we treat Brent like a slave.
AARON: Guess he just loves his brother. He'll calm down eventually.

Brent slinks in, looking sheepish, and begins to pick up his trash from the sofa and environs. David and Aaron look pleasantly surprised.

No 24
Pierce and Chloe arrive home, discussing the possibility of Fay coming to stay with them. Pierce says they'd have to find specialists here who could take over her care, and make changes around the house so she'd be comfortable.

CHLOE: Yeah, of course. So, what do you think?
PIERCE: Can I play devil's advocate?
CHLOE: Devil away.
PIERCE: Why now?
CHLOE: Well, the move could be difficult and disorienting for her. At the moment, she can still understand and adapt, but... I mean, it'll get harder the longer we wait.
PIERCE: True. But I'm thinking of you - us. We've only just found out that you're pregnant. I mean, won't it be confronting for you?
CHLOE: You think we should wait till after we've had the test?

Pierce nods.

CHLOE: But we just don't know how quickly she's gonna deteriorate. And the clock's ticking. I want to step up and take care of her, now, while she's still her. She's done so much for me my whole life, and she's never asked for nor wanted anything in return. I want to be able to give her this.
PIERCE: Well, that's it. We're doing it.
CHLOE: Really? You're on board?
PIERCE: Absolutely.
CHLOE: Thank you.

The Waterhole
Shane is hanging out in the pub when Roxy turns up - evidently it's her who was on the phone before.

SHANE: The double glazing in there - in the hotel. You can't hear anything once you're in the room. It's total silence. So you're just left with (points to his head)... what's up in here... I'm such an ungrateful jerk. Got the most thoughtful wife in the world, and here I am, complaining.
ROXY: I get it. Sometimes it's hard to be left alone with your own thoughts.
SHANE: Your own stupidity. And shame. I'm such a failure.
ROXY: No, you are not. And nobody thinks that.
SHANE: I do. I would've normally taken a bump by now to stay up and keep studying.
ROXY: You didn't, did you?
SHANE: No. Scary part was how much I wanted to. Wasn't expecting that.
ROXY: It's physical. That's your body craving it.
SHANE: It's stupid, how much I want it.
ROXY: If you can't do this on your own, we can find a way to get you some proper help.
SHANE: No, I've just got to get through these next few days. Get it out of my system. I can do this. Just wish I could sleep.

Roxy gives him some non-addictive herbal sleep aids that she's picked up for him from the pharmacy.

SHANE (emotional): Thanks. For everything. This could've been so much worse.
ROXY: Hey, no - we're not gonna think about that. You're on the right track now - that's all that matters.
SHANE: Yeah. And I'm sticking to it.

No 22
The next morning, Harlow is ready for school when Brent turns up at the door. He's come to thank her for her advice yesterday, saying she was 'surprisingly right' about David and Aaron - he pitched in with the cleaning, which made them happy, and Emmett too.

BRENT: So I guess I owe you one.
HARLOW: Well, you did the hard part.
BRENT: Scrubbing the toilet?
HARLOW: Changing your behaviour. You should be really proud of yourself.
BRENT: Yeah... You know, uh, you and me should hang out today. I'll buy you a drink to say thanks.
HARLOW: Might be a bit difficult, considering you're a few months shy of eighteen.
BRENT: Alright, then - but whatever, though. Seriously, let's do something after you finish school?
HARLOW: Okay. I will text Hendrix, see what he's doing. Maybe we could catch a movie together, or something.
BRENT: Umm... I just meant... me and you, you know?

He gets closer to her.

HARLOW: I... I think you might have the wrong idea.
BRENT: No, I don't think so. Come on.

Harlow backs away as he moves further towards her.

HARLOW: No, Brent. I said no.
BRENT: Is this because of your boyfriend? You know, he doesn't have to know what's gonna go on here. HARLOW: No, this is not about Hendrix! You've... you've misread this.
BRENT: Why were you so nice to me all the time, then, huh?
HARLOW: I'm a nice person!
BRENT (angry): So, what, you were leading me on? Huh?
HARLOW: No, no - I was... I was being kind to someone during a tough time.

Brent becomes really angry now, getting right in Harlow's face.

BRENT: What, you think I want your pity? Oh, the poor foster kid wants Harlow's pity! Really? Really?

Harlow backs away further, now scared of Brent.

HARLOW: No! I want you to leave, please!
BRENT: You know, you're a skank!

Having backed her right up against the wall, Brent pauses angrily - before leaving the house. A shaken Harlow breathes a sigh of relief.

Lassiter's
Shane is on the phone to Roxy as he picks up a takeaway bag from the hall outside the hotel room; she's delivered breakfast for him. She asks how he is today; he says he feels human again, having had a good night's sleep. There's a knock at the door - it's Dipi, and Shane thanks Roxy again for breakfast, before ending the call.

SHANE: Right - well, I still have a few hours left before I have to check out.
DIPI: Hmm, I wonder what we could do to pass the time?
SHANE: I'm sure we'll think of something!

Dipi throws down her bag, as we're left to surmise they are going to TITTNL™...

No 32
Brent is playing a video game on the sofa, when David and Aaron come in. Aaron turns off the TV.

BRENT: Look, whatever lecture you're planning, could we just skip it already?
AARON: No. Harlow told us what happened.
BRENT: Yeah. You know what? She led me on.
AARON: Oh, really? I doubt that.
DAVID: Whatever Harlow did or didn't do, you should've stopped when she told you to. She felt threatened, and that's not okay.
AARON: Do you understand that you did the wrong thing?
BRENT: Yeah, I did, alright? I'm not an idiot.
DAVID: Aaron and I have spoken about it. And we can't have this kind of behaviour in our house.

Brent is quick to anger again.

BRENT: What?! That's crap! I did everything - everything you two asked me to do.
AARON: Brent, the way you're acting now proves that this isn't going to work. We can't have this around Emmett.
BRENT: You know what? You two are just trying to keep me away from my brother.

Flying into a rage, Brent gets up and starts flinging things around the room, sweeping everything off the breakfast table onto the floor. He starts picking up mugs and throwing them at the wall - in the process, hitting Aaron in the face by accident. Realising what he's done, Brent puts the mug down and rushes out of the house. David and Aaron look at one another in shock.

Coming up on Neighbours
- Chloe tells Nicolette she wants things to be clear, and not weird
- 'He has all the power', Harlow tells Hendrix and Mackenzie; 'hit him where it hurts', says Mackenzie
- Susan tells Mackenzie she's not sure if 'that's the image I want to put out there' for the school
- Emmett's mum has shown up, and tells David and Aaron, 'this is all part of your plan'
- David rages at Paul, saying, 'of all the stupid, irresponsible things you've ever done...'